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Saturday, June 25, 2011

Georgia Tech received their seventh commit of the 2012 class in Wide Receiver Michael Summers. The Statesboro, Georgia native cited his families' relationship with head coach Paul Johnson as a big reason why he wants to attend Tech according to the AJC's Michael Carvell.

Summers' dad was recruited by the then Georgia Southern assistant back in 1984 and although the elder Summers attended South Carolina State he maintained a relationship with Johnson. The Tech head coach has known the younger Summers since he was a baby.

The Georgia Southern football program takes a back seat to no one in Division I-AA (now FCS) history. Johnson was apart of four of the six national titles won by the Eagles, two as a coordinator and two as the head coach. His winning percentage in Statesboro was .861, higher than Erk Russell's and highest in school history. The Eagles were so successful in large part due to players from Georgia.

When Johnson arrived in Georgia Tech many thought his success at Georgia Southern would help him in recruiting the state again. While the last two classes have been heavy with in state players, not many have cited Johnson or his time at Southern as a big reason why they chose the Yellow Jackets. Maybe that is beginning to turn around with Summers' commitment.

In addition to his father's relationship with Johnson, the elder Summers is also close friends with Tracy Ham who is arguably Georgia Southern's best player ever. Ham, a member of the College Football Hall of Fame, was a QB for Johnson's offense in the 80s and talked up his former coach to Summers' family.

Michael Summers, Jr recently received an offer from the Florida Gators but turned down the offer from the two time BCS Champions and decided to go with the guy who helped turn his home town school into an elite program of their own.